Unfortunately the Island’s hopes of a double gold disappeared at the fifth hole of a play-off when Olivia Jordan-Higgins was beaten by a birdie from Bermuda’s Laura Robinson.
But full credit to the ladies’ team as they captured the top prize for the second time – they also won in Jersey in 1997.
The quartet of Jordan-Higgins, Alex Mollin, Gloria Paradiso and Diane Carter won by one stroke from Gotland, with Jersey’s total of 998 being made up of the top three scores from the four to count.
Team manager Cassandra Holderness said: ‘It couldn’t have been closer.
I’m absolutely delighted for everyone – they’ve worked so hard.
‘The stamina they have shown in the heat during the competition and the few days before is remarkable.
It has been gruelling.
The course was also 6,000 yards long, which is longer than they are all used to.
We have a couple of short hitters and it was difficult for them on the dog-leg holes, but they kept on the fairways and relied on their approach shots.
‘The team spirit has been brilliant.
She has helped everyone and her support has been so valuable.
I’m happy finishing sixth, because two months ago I lost my Dad and that was a big setback.’ Gloria Paradiso, who won individual bronze in Jersey ten years ago, said: ‘I didn’t have a good round today.
I had two bad holes and I thought I had let the team down.
But when I told them my score they said they thought we’d won – and eventually we found out we had.’ Diane Carter said: ‘I’m privileged to be part of such a great team.
It completes a double gold for our household because my son, Ian, won the 1500m gold in the Isle of Man 2001!’ Higgins went into the final round of the individual tournament with a three-shot lead, but after the first two holes she was trailing by one stroke, having carded a bogey and then a double bogey.
The student fought back to lead again but at three up with three to play she was pegged back after two pars and a bogey to go into the play-off.
The 19-year-old, who is on a golf scholarship in the United States, said: ‘I thought I’d lost it.
I’d miscalculated the scores after Laura got a birdie at the 18th.
It was relief to go to the play-off and I had a couple of chances to win it.
I knew it was going to be tough because I’ve played with Laura three times this week out of four.
‘I had a chance at the first extra hole but missed it, and at the fourth the ball broke left to right but just a few centimetres early.
I’ll never forget that shot – I really thought it was in.
I’m looking forward to the next Games in Åland.
I have the incentive now of trying to win the individual gold medal, and hopefully I can.’ The individual scores yesterday were: Jordan-Higgins 81, Mollin 82, Paradiso 89 and Carter 92.
The ladies’ individual gold medal in Shetland two years ago was also decided by a play-off.
Jersey’s men had their best team score of the week yesterday to finish fourth overall – 24 strokes behind Åland.
A total of 228 resulted in their finishing on 934.
Gyles Robin was seventh overall in the individual tournament following a one-under-par 73 – six strokes off the bronze medal position.
Harrison Steel (75) was 14th, Chris Young (80) 23rd and Sam Crenan (90) joint 42nd out of 70 players.
